What is Omaze?
Founded in 2012 by Matthew Pohlson and Ryan Cummins, Omaze operates as a for-profit entertainment enterprise with a distinct social mission. The platform leverages the allure of luxury prizes—ranging from supercars to real estate—to incentivize charitable donations, effectively gamifying the philanthropic experience. By connecting influencers and nonprofit organizations with a global donor base, Omaze has carved out a unique market position that sits at the intersection of digital media, consumer engagement, and social responsibility. Its business model relies on the scalability of online sweepstakes to drive significant capital toward charitable causes while maintaining a sustainable, for-profit operational framework.
How much funding has Omaze raised?
Omaze has raised a total of $129M across 5 funding rounds:
Angel/Seed
$1M
Multiple Rounds
$43M
Series C
$85M
Angel/Seed (2012): $1M with participation from Andre Agassi Foundation, Dave Gilboa, Paige Craig, Adam Press, and Kevin Wall
Debt (2020): $1M led by PPP
Series A (2020): $12M, investors not publicly disclosed
Series B (2020): $30M featuring Tusk Ventures, Causeway Media Partners, Gaingels, FirstMark Capital, Inherent Group, BDM International, and Guy Oseary
Series C (2021): $85M backed by Louis Bacon's Moore Strategic Ventures, T Ventures Management, FirstMark Capital, Causeway Media Partners, and WndrCo
Key Investors in Omaze
FirstMark Capital
FirstMark is an early-stage venture capital firm headquartered in New York City that backs exceptional founders and provides a platform designed to accelerate growth through transformative access to networks, customers, and top talent.
Gaingels
Gaingels is a leading investment syndicate representing the LGBTQ community and allies, investing in high-growth companies at all stages of development with a focus on building inclusive teams.
WndrCo
WndrCo is a firm that builds and invests in transformative growth companies, employing strategies that include venture investing in category winners and seed funding for emerging entrepreneurs.
What's next for Omaze?
With the infusion of capital from its most recent financing round, Omaze is positioned to accelerate its market penetration and enhance its digital infrastructure. The company is expected to focus on expanding its influencer network and diversifying its prize offerings to maintain high engagement levels in an increasingly competitive digital fundraising environment. As it moves beyond its current lifecycle stage, the firm will likely prioritize technological upgrades to its platform to ensure seamless user experiences and robust data analytics, further cementing its role as a leader in the intersection of entertainment and social impact. Strategic partnerships and continued focus on ESG-aligned growth will remain central to its long-term value proposition.
See full Omaze company page
